I am a quadraplegic from a spinal cord injury I incured when I fell while
playing in a tree house when I was 16. I lived on 600 acre dairy/crop farm
in rural PA. That day just before the accident I had spent the morning
discing a field. I was very fond of farming and loved every aspect of it
and had been very involved with my familly in doing work on the farm. I
planned on being a farmer when I grew up.
After this injury everything changed and it was no longer an option for me
to be a farmer. In fact everything about my life is quite involved and it
takes a good deal of internal strength to retain a feeling of self-worth
given the attitudes of people. The bottom line is that as civilized
societies we must decide whether we think that our elderly or disabled are
useless, or they have equal worth to the rest of the people and we are
willing to pay some taxes to provide them with some opportunities in life.
One important thing I would point out, that most people choose to put out of
their mind, is the fact that everyone will become elderly at a time in their
lives.
My opinion, and it comes from elleven years of experience, is that we, both
the elderly and less-able-bodied, have much to contribute to the well-being
of society. The question is, do we want our societies to be completely
pre-occupied with sustaining the 'economy' or with sustaining each other,
and letting the economy naturally take care of itself. And I am not
implying that we, the disabled and elderly, can't help that economy either
because there are many things that we can do which are valuable. It is a
question of whether the people want to include us or not.
When I hear, and I do listen, to people talking about abolishing 'welfare'
programs, from my perspective they want to assume that all of their money is
being wasted on people who don't need it. I don't think that this
perception on the part of people is entirely because they don't want to
support their elderlly and disabled fellow citizens in need. I think that
there is so much propaganda, intended or unintended, to cause people fear
about their financial security and future, which implies(or directly states)
that most, if not all, of your money is being wasted on people comitting fraud.
There are many of us who are benefited and have benefited from your taxes, a
great deal. I have lived on a very minimal income but I am not complaining
because I, as a child have been in India and Mexico, where even the way I
live is what many would consider wealthy. I am greatful that the system
exists which has made my life possible. I think that the mental energy used
in concern over people's taxes being wasted, could at least partially be
better spent in trying to make the lives of those with a genuine need be
more productive.
The expenses required for my daily life, which in this reference is of a
much lower quality in many regards(meaning that your tax dollars are being
spent only to provide me with the essential requirements to live, and even
that I must fight for), are such that I would not be able to earn on my own.
One of the big problems is that we as a society don't trust each other
enough to believe that there is anyone, or at least the vast majority of the
recipients, who is not trying to cheat the system.
I would, and I know I speak for most people in a similar condition, much
rather support myself. Who of you wouldn't? I would venture to say that
there are very few who like to live off of anothers' 'charity', especially
when all we hear all the time is how much people hate paying taxes. Maybe
we as a society should seriously think of just killing anyone who lives
without being able to fully support themselves. I think we would be a cold
heartless society, but maybe that's what we are.
Here I maybe venting some of the feelings which many of us who are not
wealthy and are elderly and disabled, feel. But nonetheless, this is an
important topic which we must face as a society. I am not a depressed
suicidal person either; with the help of your gracious taxes I am happy to
say that I feel quite satisfied with what I have done with my life in spite
of its obvious difficulties. There are many valuable things we have to
offer and if whoever it is that keeps putting out these images to create
distrust and fear in people would stop, maybe we could help each other in
better ways.
I won't say anymore here and I am not sure that this is the right forum.
None of us speak of these feelings because we already feel like a burden and
especially for the elderly, they have no power to stand on in their own
defense because they feel worthless. Well this is food for thought and I
don't expect any answers or solutions.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Nirmal